What if your past wasn’t just something you remember… but something that actively pulls you back? In this episode of Shelf Discovery, I do something a little different. Instead of interviewing an author, I step into the spotlight and answer the same questions I usually ask my guests—this time about my own magical realism novel, Son of the Axe. The result is a more personal, reflective episode that explores not just the story itself, but the deeper questions behind it: identity, legacy, and the quiet tension between the life we live and the life we feel we were meant to live. A different kind of episode This episode is part of Self-Made Stories, where the focus is usually on indie authors building their work outside traditional publishing. But instead of a traditional interview, I walk you through the core ideas behind Son of the Axe by answering a simple set of questions: * What is the book about? * What other books is it similar to? * Why might readers connect with it? * Where did the idea come from? It’s a format designed to give you a clear sense of the story—without overexplaining it. The story at the centre At its core, Son of the Axe follows Jacob Machado, a man who appears to have a stable, complete life—until something shifts. A midlife crisis, or perhaps something deeper. When Jacob acquires a mysterious axe linked to his 12th-century ancestor, what begins as curiosity turns into obsession. He starts tracing his family history across Portugal, Spain, and Colombia, searching for meaning in the past. But the deeper he goes, the more the line between history and something… less explainable begins to blur. The journey comes at a cost. His work, his relationships, and his sense of reality all begin to unravel. And at the centre of it all is a question he cannot avoid: Do you hold on to the past—or do you let it go? A story grounded in real questions While the novel includes supernatural elements—a cursed object, ghostly visions, echoes of the past—the heart of the story is deeply human. It explores questions many readers will recognise: * Where do I come from? * How much does my past define me? * What does it mean to live a meaningful life? * What kind of legacy am I leaving behind? As I explain in the episode, this is not just a story about a man and an object. It’s about identity. And the tension between the life we have… and the life we imagine could have been. Books that shaped the story To give listeners a sense of the tone and themes, I compare Son of the Axe to a few well-known novels: * The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab — for its exploration of memory and legacy across time * The Midnight Library by Matt Haig — for its psychological depth and focus on regret and alternate lives * The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón — for its atmosphere and connection between past and present Each comparison highlights a different aspect of the novel, from its emotional core to its narrative structure. The personal inspiration behind the book One of the most revealing parts of the episode is the origin of the story. Son of the Axe draws directly from my own family history. The novel begins with the real story of my 22nd great-grandfather, a man who fought in 12th-century Portugal. From there, I traced the journey of my ancestors across countries and generations. That research sparked something deeper. A realization that history is not just a sequence of events—it’s a chain of decisions, identities, and unresolved questions that continue to echo forward. The novel builds on that idea, blending real history with imagination to explore how the past shapes the present. A glimpse into the story The episode also includes a reading from the opening page, set in medieval Portugal. It introduces the origin of the axe and hints at the long arc of the story—one that stretches across centuries and connects past and present through a single object. Without giving too much away, it sets the tone: atmospheric, historical, and slightly unsettling. Where to find the book Son of the Axe is available in multiple formats: * Paperback (widely available) * Hardback (via Amazon) * Ebook (including Kindle Unlimited) At the time of recording, the ebook is priced at an accessible level, making it easy to try. For more information, including links and details about the sequel novella What the Axe Did Next, you can visit: dpmartinez.uk Listen if you enjoy: * magical realism grounded in real history * character-driven stories about identity and purpose * novels that blend past and present * reflective, slightly darker explorations of meaning * discovering indie books with a personal origin Thanks for reading Contemporary Fantasy Reads! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dpmartinez.substack.com
